The UK education system has been a little slow
with the uptake of this amazing instrument. For many years the
Recorder has been the first instrument of choice - but lacks longevity
as an instrument that can be carried into adulthood. The Harmonica is
also a much 'cooler'
instrument and is accepted across all musical genres, from
Orchestral through to Blues, Rock and Pop. Because of this, Harmonica tuition has increased
in the last decade and many schools around the UK
are now teaching the instrument as part of the curriculum.

Suzuki have been at the leading edge of this
push forward with the development of the 'Airwave', a brand new
Harmonica perfect for those early learning stages. By increasing the
space between the mouthpiece holes beginners can easily find the
correct notes. Once this is mastered the student can progress to standard
Diatonic
Harmonicas or Chromatic Harmonicas.

Although Suzuki has an extensive range of instruments
available, we have selected a few that have proved successful in the
educational sector here in the UK. For more information, please
visit our main Harmonica website:
www.suzukiharmonicaworld.com
which features the full range plus videos to introduce each model
and maintain to your Suzuki Harmonica.

Scroll down for advice on choosing the right
instrument for your pupils.

Suzuki Airwave AW-1

Available in three colours, the Airwave has no external
screws or metal parts like other harmonicas so it's safe for
even the youngest of pupils. It is constructed of tough and
virtually unbreakable resin so will easily withstand the
occasional trip to the floor! The ergonomic body design is
easy to hold and play, notes are much easier to find due to
the hole spacing. Do not be mislead by appearance - this is
no musical toy and benefits from Suzuki's wealth of
experience and technology. The Professional quality reeds,
combe and air tight body mean this harmonica really plays!

The Easy Rider is our entry level
Diatonic and the perfect introduction to the world of 10
Hole Harmonicas. Don't be fooled! 'Entry Level' does not
equate to poor quality and poor sound, instead we use lower
cost materials and streamlined production methods to strike
the balance between price and quality. In fact, the Easy
Rider sounds so good, many of our professional players
regularly perform with the Easy Rider and simply replace them
at regular intervals to save on maintenance.

Our Chromatix series is a professional quality
range of Harmonic's that are easy on the pocket and built to
last. The SCX-48 is our best selling Chromatic Harmonica and
is used by some of the worlds leading harmonica
players.
This is largely due to quality of sound, build quality,
ergonomics and airtight mouthpiece. There are three in the
range (12, 14 and 16 hole) however we recommend the SCX-48
for educational use.

As an Educator it is vital you consider carefully
and select the right harmonica
for your pupils. There are essentially three main types: Diatonic,
Chromatic and Tremolo.

The most popular Harmonica by far is the 10 hole
Diatonic (Airwave, Easy Rider). These popular instruments are widely
available around the world, are a cost effective learning tool and
great results are
quickly achieved. However, they do not contain all the notes of a
scale which means music has to be selected around the instruments
'key' or scale. We recommend C Scale for beginners, this being the
only key available for Airwave. The Diatonic is the most popular
Harmonica to be used in contemporary popular music - from Blues to Rock.

Chromatic Harmonicas are larger than a Diatonic
model and normally available in three sizes; 12, 14
and 16 holes. It is possible to play a full Chromatic Scale with
little effort due to the 'slide'. This means on one hole, four notes
are available. This is the reason our popular 12 hole Chromatic Harmonica
is named SCX-48 (12 hole, 48
note). Also available are the SCX-56 and SCX-64. Whilst a Chromatic
Harmonica can be used for contemporary
Music (think Stevie Wonder) they are often used for classical and
folk music where a greater range of notes are required.

Generally Tremolo Harmonicas are not used as an educational
instrument so we have not included it on this page. These have a
second set of reeds which are slightly detuned from the primary set.
This results in a beautiful 'chorus' effect popular with many
Harmonica players over the years.

Whatever Harmonica you choose for your pupils they
are certain to enjoy the experience of learning to play a very cool
instrument. If pupils are
keen to learn - your job as an educator is made far easier.

Suzuki Harmonica Prices

Model

RRP

EZR-20. 10 Hole Diatonic with card box.

£7.79

EZR-20T. Retail Packaged with Quick Start CD ROM.

£13.99

AW-1 Airwave Harmonica without
packaging or booklet
(available in Blue, Red and Orange).